VAT Refund Calculator
Free VAT refund estimator for tourists. Pick a country (or set a custom VAT rate), enter your purchase total, and see how much you should expect back after the refund agent's admin fee.
Try the mobile app
VAT Refund for Android — 30+ countries, multi-currency, airport scan-and-go reminders.
How to Use This VAT Refund Calculator
- Pick the country where you shopped. The VAT rate fills in automatically.
- Enter the total amount you paid in-store (this is the price including VAT).
- Set the refund agent's admin fee — typically 35–50% of the VAT amount.
How a VAT Refund Is Calculated
VAT is included in the sticker price. To find the VAT amount, divide the purchase by (1 + rate) to get the net price, then subtract.
refund = vat × (1 − admin fee%)
The "net price" output is what the item would cost without VAT — useful for comparing prices to non-VAT countries like the US.
Why your refund is smaller than the VAT rate
The most common surprise with tax-free shopping is that a 20% VAT rate does not mean 20% back. Refund operators take an administration fee, so what you actually receive is usually noticeably less than the headline VAT. On top of that, most countries set a minimum spend per shop or per receipt, require you to be a non-resident visitor taking the goods home unused, and expect you to get the paperwork validated by customs as you leave. This tool gives you a ballpark so the figure at the refund desk isn't a disappointment.
Across 20 years in IT support with colleagues in Manila, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, business trips meant someone was always shopping on the way home — and VAT refunds were endlessly misunderstood. People assumed "20% VAT, so I get 20% back," then felt short-changed when the operator's cut left them with noticeably less. Others missed the minimum spend, or — the classic — left it too late at the airport and couldn't get the forms stamped before the flight, so the refund evaporated entirely. None of it is complicated once you know the rules; the trouble is everyone learns them the expensive way the first time.
— Hill, 20 years in IT supportRefund rates, eligibility and minimum-spend thresholds vary by country and change often. Treat this as a rough estimate and confirm the exact terms with the retailer, the refund operator, or the customs desk before relying on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for a VAT refund?
Non-resident tourists leaving the country / region of purchase. Most schemes require you to export the goods within 30–90 days, present them at customs on departure, and meet a minimum purchase threshold.
Why is my refund less than the VAT rate?
VAT refund agents (Global Blue, Premier Tax Free, Planet) take a service fee — typically 35–50% of the VAT amount. The calculator's "admin fee" field lets you model this. Cash refunds at the airport often have higher fees than card refunds.
Does the UK still offer tourist VAT refunds?
As of 2026, the UK no longer offers in-store tax-free shopping to non-EU tourists (ended Jan 2021). Northern Ireland is an exception for some goods. EU countries, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and many others still have active schemes.
What do I actually need to do to claim it?
Typically: spend above the country's minimum in a participating shop, ask for a tax-free form at purchase, then get it validated by customs when you leave (often with the goods available to show), and submit it to the refund operator. Steps vary by country, so check locally before you travel.